The popular anti-acne medication “Accutane” has been slapped with a $25.16 million judgment in a personal injury lawsuit filed by an Alabama man.
According to 38-year-old Andrew McCarrell, he started taking Accutane in his 20s and it led to his inflammatory bowel disorder and the eventual removal of his colon.
The compensatory damages were given last Tuesday after the case went to retrial when an appeals court reversed a prior $2.6 million judgment McCarrell won last 2007.
Hofman-La Roche actually stopped selling the drug in 2009 because it became quite costly to defend against multiple lawsuits that blame Accutate for suicidal behaviors and birth defects.
Accutane is now only available in the US under the program called IPLEDGE that requires those who will undergo treatment to sign documents that says that they are aware of its possible side effects and that they will be using birth control methods while under the program.
Those who have osteoporosis, heart disease, liver disease, asthma, mental illness are discouraged from the program.
Accutane may have the following side effects:
• Depression
• Numbness and weakness
• Blurred vision, nausea and headaches
• Seizures
• Severe stomach pains
• Severe diarrhea
• Flu like symptoms
• Joint stiffness, bone pain r fracture
For consumers, it would be best to consult your doctor about any medications before taking them.
If you were sold Accutane outside the IPLEDGE program, you should make a complaint to the Foods and Drugs Administration.
You can also consult a consumer rights attorney to know your legal options against the person or organization that sold you the medicine.
According to 38-year-old Andrew McCarrell, he started taking Accutane in his 20s and it led to his inflammatory bowel disorder and the eventual removal of his colon.
The compensatory damages were given last Tuesday after the case went to retrial when an appeals court reversed a prior $2.6 million judgment McCarrell won last 2007.
Hofman-La Roche actually stopped selling the drug in 2009 because it became quite costly to defend against multiple lawsuits that blame Accutate for suicidal behaviors and birth defects.
Accutane is now only available in the US under the program called IPLEDGE that requires those who will undergo treatment to sign documents that says that they are aware of its possible side effects and that they will be using birth control methods while under the program.
Those who have osteoporosis, heart disease, liver disease, asthma, mental illness are discouraged from the program.
Accutane may have the following side effects:
• Depression
• Numbness and weakness
• Blurred vision, nausea and headaches
• Seizures
• Severe stomach pains
• Severe diarrhea
• Flu like symptoms
• Joint stiffness, bone pain r fracture
For consumers, it would be best to consult your doctor about any medications before taking them.
If you were sold Accutane outside the IPLEDGE program, you should make a complaint to the Foods and Drugs Administration.
You can also consult a consumer rights attorney to know your legal options against the person or organization that sold you the medicine.
